Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2024 i The Gardener Magazine

Our November feature garden has been in the pipeline for a good few years. When you read the feature you will understand why, at one point we had all the images for the garden, but life decided to change our planning somewhat, and hence only now are we able to share this magnificent garden with you. Without giving too much away, this journey and the garden you see now in these pages is a rebirth with a strong remembrance of where Marionette’s gardening journey began. The garden has an intricate design, which is simply the perfection of balance, structure, creativity and, above all, interesting plants. It is built with the memory of DM, Marionette’s late husband, in mind. DM and I always shared a passion for agaves and plants with…

Impatiens rule the shade garden The most popular summer colour for the garden, Impatiens ‘Sunpatiens’, has a new sister in the Eckards world, and she is this season’s ‘must have’ annual. With their tropical lush vibe, they last well into autumn and are the easiest way to add colour to your home. Introducing Impatiens ‘Solarscape’, the new full shade-loving variety that will also grow in the morning sun with its lovely large, slightly scalloped flower. Get them both in your Eckards shopping cart. www.eckards.co.za Win 5 Mangave Plants CND Nursery is giving away five of the latest mangave plants to one lucky reader. The new mangaves are the latest trendy plant and sought after in the plant world. All you need to stand a chance to win this prize is…

Greg has a passion for turning green spaces into living canvases, and creating gardens into breathtaking outdoor art whilst working towards a sustainable future. With an artist’s eye and a gardener’s touch, Greg will create a bespoke garden for you, endorsed by an extensive portfolio and award-winning designs. www.gregdowsett.co.za. MY BEST PLANTING TIPS It’s summer again, and that means we’re all out in the garden, planting new plants. I have some tips for you. Why a shrub fails to flower Most shrubs will have to reach a level of maturity to start flowering well, but then they sometimes don’t. These might be the reasons: • The plant was badly pruned or at the wrong time, removing the flower buds. • It got the wrong fertiliser. Instead of potassium producing flowers,…

‘Foxy Lady’ is a neat, rounded rose ideal for containers. The blooms are densely petalled and open into full garnet-type blooms in a vibrant reddish-brown ‘foxy’ colour. The bush produces a constant supply of blooms on short side stems. Rose care for November It’s time to build the second flush of roses: • Fertilise with a rose fertiliser once a month.• Water deeply at least twice a week in the absence of rainfall.• Keep new growth healthy by spraying with Ludwig’s Insect Spray Plus mixed with Chronos to prevent black spot or using Rose Protector, which safeguards against pests and diseases.• Should dry heat bring on red spider, spray on the underside of the leaves with a double dose of Ludwig’s Insect Spray.• Keep on deadheading to encourage new stems…

The abundance of the summer season means plenty of time in the garden, growing, harvesting and cooking – what a happy place to be! Becoming a Green Goddess The freshness of herbs cannot be matched when developing a good meal, and with the abundance of herbs you can grow in the garden, there is no excuse for not growing and using them. Often, the problem is that we buy a punnet of herbs for the garden and have too much to use up for a household. Have I got a solution for you? It’s called a Green Goddess sauce, and it can be used on burgers, for a chip dip, on pasta or pizza, as a salad dressing, for dipping vegetables, on sandwiches, and anything you can think of that…

A plant that grows a house George Mann @theplantfinder Some South Africans will recall the old-school wax plant that a family member had sitting in a corner of a garden, scrambling over a frame or up a tree, with its truly waxlike white blooms: the old faithful Hoya carnosa. The genus Hoya consists of more than 500 recognised species, found over much of eastern Asia, most of the islands, and the continent of Australia. The variation between species has captured the hearts of gardeners and hobbyist collectors alike. In the Philippines, one of the most fascinating species in this large genus is Hoya darwinii, named after the father of evolution himself, Charles Darwin. This fascinating species has developed the most incredible adaptation, aiding its survival where it grows as an…

Winning letter Dear Tanya… My grapevine is already very old and is getting smaller, with fewer grapes every year. When and how do I make cuttings of grapevines? Thank you, Cobus Hi Cobus, Although it is too late to take your cuttings this season, perhaps you should give a small batch a try and take the rest next season. As you suggested, the best way to rejuvenate your vine is to take new cuttings; this will give new longevity while still keeping your favourite grape. These are the steps: 1. Select the longest canes of the vine that are pencil-thick with no new green growth. The stems should be mature stems with semi-hardened growth. Cut these into 20-30 cm long sections. Keep a flat cut at the top of the…

In the tranquil suburb of Moreleta Park, Pretoria, lies a garden that transcends the ordinary. This is not just any garden; it is a living testament to the passion, dedication, and resilience of its creator, Marionette Lubbinge. Every leaf, every bloom and every carefully placed stone reflects the soul of a woman who has dedicated her life to the art of gardening. Marionette’s garden is not merely a collection of plants but a sanctuary of beauty and creativity, a place where nature and human ingenuity intertwine in perfect harmony. Marionette Lubbinge is the driving force behind Plant Paradise Garden Centre and Plant Paradise Landscaping. As the owner of these successful enterprises, she is deeply involved in every aspect of garden design and landscaping. “I do the garden designs myself and…

The dry, hot conditions a cactus prefers in its natural habitat are quite likely to be similar in your home. This means that cacti in the right position and with the correct care instructions will do very well in most homes. Cacti’s architectural fleshy stems and interesting spines also make them a designer’s dream plant. A group of potted cacti is a statement that cannot be ignored. Given enough sunlight, the right soil, and not too much water, cactus plants can be very rewarding and make excellent gifts for beginner gardeners. Golden rules While they are low-maintenance plants, any succulent or cactus needs specific rules to survive indoors. Light Ensure your cactus has at least 4-6 hours of sunlight a day. This would usually be a north-facing window. Every now…

If you are looking for a literal explosion of colour, you must invest in ‘Supertunias’. These hybrid petunias are bred by Proven Winners to have vigorous growth and incredible performance in garden beds, containers and hanging baskets. They have an abundance of blooms from spring all through summer and into autumn, so they are prolific for a long time. They have a useful trailing habit that allows the flowers to cascade from pot rims and literally turn a hanging basket into a ball of colour. They are known for tolerating humidity and heat and, when planted in masses, will be serious pollinator plants. ‘Supertunias’ must be planted in full sun for the best performance and rich, well-drained soil. They need regular water, especially in hot, dry times and climates, but…

A houseplant collar acts like a mulch, keeping moisture in the soil and the decorative moss clean and tidy. Here is how you do it: Gather together • Landscape fabric• Sphagnum moss• Flower glue (the type florists use) or contact adhesive• Scissors• Tape measure• Pot plant Measure the top of the pot plant from the stem to the edge of the container. Double the measurement and mark out a square on the landscape fabric. A whiteboard marker helps if you are using black landscape fabric. Turn the square into a circle and fold it to cut a hole in the middle for the plant’s stem. Cut up to the hole on one side. Lay the fabric on a board and add a layer of glue. Pack the moss around the…

Join Freddie to find out what’s new and trending in the world of bedding plants. These Flowering Favourites are available this month at garden centres countrywide ready to be planted in your garden or in a pot. TOPPING UP SUMMER COLOUR Some annuals perform so well, they are essential for a summer garden. For a space in a garden bed or just a pot filled with colour, you can’t go wrong with these rewarding bedding plants. IMPATIENS The free-flowering nature of impatiens makes them popular plants, and they can be planted in sun or shade. Getting some colour into shaded areas can be quite a challenge, but not with the variety of impatiens on hand. Give them moist, well-draining soil and a slow-release fertiliser to keep them healthy, and they…

My summer season starts with lovely garden tasks, and then we can bring the outdoors in. Gerberas make me smile! Varieties of Gerbera jamesonii (Barberton or Transvaal daisy) are perennials produced in a variety of bright and cheerful colours. They are hugely popular as cut flowers but are also sold in pots to use as very colourful indoor plants. They cope well in moist soil on a windowsill with bright light and good ventilation. Avoid rooms with too much humidity and do not overwater or splash the leaves when watering. Take them outside… Their happy daisy-like flowers create brilliant splashes of colour in the front of garden beds and are loved by butterflies. If cared for correctly, they have a long blooming period. Gerberas will cope in sun or semi-shade.…

Pomegranate Punica granatum Pomegranates are attractive little trees or large shrubs (3 x 3 m) bearing the most exotic fruit, which is high in antioxidants, vitamins and nutrient-rich minerals and have become an important crop for export in our country. There are many cultivars, with ‘Wonderful’ being the most readily available for the home gardener to plant. The foliage is bright green, and the plant can become deciduous in cold climates with only moderate frost. The scarlet-red flowers are male and hermaphrodite, from which the large fruit develops with glossy skins turning bright red when ripe in April. They are semi-hard seeded with a sweet, tart taste. The fruit is perfect for eating and juicing and can last up to 3 months if kept in a fridge. ‘Wonderful’ and another…

The WORX Blower and Trimmer Combo Around 85% of the dirt in your home is tracked, blown or carried in from entry points like your garage, deck, porch or workshop. With the versatility of the WORX blower, you can create a clean zone at these entry points with minimal time and effort. The angled, long tube gives you access to hard-to-reach places, such as underneath furniture, decks or cars. The WORX trimmer is a trimmer and edger in one tool. It easily converts from a trimmer to a walk-behind edger in seconds without needing tools. It has been designed with a single-line auto feed system, allowing easy use, fast trimming, and longer running time. This 20V kit comes with a battery and standard charger. WORX Powerful drill driver combo The…

Pick up a spade and join Tanya in the garden this summer. Classic to combine Finding plants that look just perfect together takes a little practice. These two create a wonderful show in my garden… Coleus ‘Chocolate Mint’ Summer is coleus-time when one can create a rich tapestry of lovely foliage with these willing plants in partial shade. They are available in a range of gorgeous colours, and the latest hybrids are tough enough to be planted in full sun as well. ‘Chocolate Mint’ has a dramatic presence with chocolate-coloured serrated leaves edged in mint green. It is upright with a mature size of 50 x 40 cm. Carex oshimensis ‘Everillo’ The perfect foil for the bold and dark coleus, it has thin, arching lime-green leaves that turn golden yellow…

Maybe you don’t need reminding, but just in case, Erigeron karvinskianus ‘Profusion’ is one of the prettiest and hardiest flowering groundcovers for full sun or partial shade. By midsummer, it is covered with the tiniest white daisy-like flowers that sometimes have a pinkish hue. Trimming will prevent it from becoming scraggly. This perennial does best in well-drained soil and with regular watering. Its profusion of flowers attracts butterflies and bees. WHAT’S NEW Sedum takesimense ‘ATLANTIS’ This variegated sedum groundcover is a beauty, the kind of plant that stops you in your tracks. The leaves form small perfect rosettes, and each leaf is deep green in the centre with a wide creamy yellow margin that is its most noticeable feature. What’s to like? This low-growing, spreading succulent is extremely drought-tolerant and…

Amongst the traditional varieties grown for their very attractive pendulant flowers continuously produced from summer to autumn, there are three growth types: Bushy and upright are suitable for planting in the ground (and containers). Semi-trailing are perfect for pots and to train into weeping lollypop standards. Trailing cascaders are the perfect choice for hanging baskets, window boxes and pots. The flower shapes are variable, ranging from single to semi-double to double or triphylla (tube-shaped), depending on the number of petals. Keeping them in flower • These plants flower on new growth. To keep them in full bloom until May, occasionally pinch out the growth tips to get more flowers.• The pruning of established plants are done in early spring by removing about ⅔ of the lanky stems of a previous…

Unlike previously, it takes three turns of the ignition and a bit of frantic pumping on the petrol pedal to get the car to start. At first, I thought the old thing was just freezing, as we had such a cold and wet winter, but the problem remained. My son-in-law shouted at me: “Ma! You need to drive this car a bit more. Just going to the café once a day is not enough; get out of town!” Well, we got out of town with me behind the wheel and the “outoppie” as the passenger. Unbeknownst to me, my spouse booked us into the inimitable Paternoster Hotel up the West Coast to celebrate our wedding anniversary. We have been married for more than a century now… Deep down, I knew…